Hazleton City Council approves budget, reduces tax increase

Presented at a special meeting Thursday with a recommendation to approve the version of the city's 2013 budget as previously proposed by Mayor Joseph Yanuzzi, complete with an 83 percent property tax increase, councilman Keith Bast made motion to approve, but with amendments.

The amendments include a $175,000 cut in funding to the police department, a $75,000 cut in fire department funding, $50,000 trimmed from contracted code enforcement services, a $35,000 reduction in contracted engineering services, and a $50,000 cut in public works expenses.

Bast's amendments included new revenue from a storm water management fee, a city take-over of the Parking Authority, profits from timbering city-owned land, and an increase in the per capita tax.

Approved 3-2 with Bast, council President James Perry and councilman Kevin Schadder in favor and council members Jack Mundie and Jean Mope opposed, the tentatively-approved budget reduces the projected tax increase to approximately 20 percent.

The budget must be approved on a second and third reading, which council said could take place as early as Monday.

The third class city code requires budget approval by Dec. 31.

For the full story, see Friday's edition of the Standard-Speaker.

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